Mattress clamp



Aug. 24, 1926.

w. J. DUVALL MATTRESS CLAMP T INVENTOR. Wm. J. DUVALL Filed March 1925 El l5 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. DUVALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH 8c DAVIS MFG. 00., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

MATTRESS CLAMP.

Application filed March 27, 1825.

My invention has relation to improvements in mattress clamps for folding beds, and consists in the novel features of con struction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claim.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a clamp to hold down the foot end of the mattress when the bed is tilted or folded up, said clamp being: simple in construction and easily operated. Briefly, the clamp consists in a lever pivoted to the foot end rail, the lever carrying a pawl which cooperates with a rack bar to hold the lever in operative position, the lever also carrying a mattress engaging finger for holding the mattress in place when" the bed is eleavted or folded up.

The advantages of the invention will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tilting or folding bed showing the application of the clamp; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation ot the bed end rail with parts broken away showing a pair of clamps in end elevation, one of which engages the mattress and the otherbeing released; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 33 of 2.

Referring to the drawings B represents a folding closet bed, the head frame 1 of which is hinged on the door frame F, and the bottom 9. is pivoted at 3 on the head frame. A detailed description of the bed itself is not attempted here because the bed is made the subject of a separate application under Serial Number 675,001, filed November 15, 1923.

Obviously, when the bed bottom is raised preliminary to swinging the bed into the closet the mattress M will fal toward the head frame 1 it it is not held down at the foot end. Therefore, a pair of clamps 5, 5 are provided, the same being mounted on the foot end rail 6 in spaced relation. Each clamp comprises a lever 7 pivotally mounted at 8 between the end rail 6 and a rack bar 9 Serial No. 18,769.

secured to said end rail by rivets 10, 10, on which spacing washers 11 are disposed to hold the rack bar a fixed distance from the end rail. A mattress restraining member comprising a shank 12 having a laterally disposed finger 13'at its upper end is mounted on the lever 7 by straps 14, 14: in spaced relation. The shank 12 is free to turn in the straps 14; and has its lower end bent over, as at 15, to prevent it from slipping out of said straps.

The finger 13 extends over the mattress (Fig. 1) and may be securely held against the mattress by moving the lever to an inclined position (left side, Fig. 2) whereupon a pawl 16, pivotally mounted on the lever at 17, en gases the teeth 18 of rack bar 9.

lVhen the mattress is to be released the lever 7 is forced down a trifle to remove the pressure from the pawl 16 after which the pawl may be lifted from the teeth 18 and the lever raised as shown at the right of Fig. 2.

The finger 13 adjusts itself readily to mattresses of different thickness owing to the freedom of movement of the shank 12 in the straps 14. Owing; to the inherent tension in the mattress when held down tightly by the clamps, it is practically impossible for the clamps to become accidentally loosened. Thus a clamp is provided. without springs or other tension devices, that tightly holds the mattress in place on the bed bottom.

Having described my invention, I claim A mattress clamp for holding the mattress on a bed, said clam comprising' a lever arm pivotally mounted. on a bed end rail, a mat tress restraining member consisting of a shank secured to and longitudinally adjustable on said lever arm, said shank having laterally disposed finger for engaging the mattress, a pawl pivotally mounted on said lever arm, and a rack-bar secured to said end rail for co-operating with the pawl to hold the lever arm in depressed position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. DUVALL. 

